Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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37. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí assigned to the drugs and community policing units in the Ballymun sub-district for the past five years up to the latest date possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7675/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005, as amended, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of Garda business, including the distribution and stationing of Garda members throughout the State, including to specialist units within the organisation. As Minister, I have no role in these independent, operational functions.

I am assured that the Garda Commissioner keeps the allocation of resources under continued review to ensure their optimum use. This takes into account factors including crime trends, operational strategies and local population figures.

I have been informed by the Garda authorities that the number of Community Gardaí assigned to the Ballymun area is currently less than 10. I am further advised by the Garda authorities that counts of less than 10 cannot be provided due to data protection concerns.

The official categorisation as a Community Garda simply refers to those who are exclusively assigned to building relationships with local communities and civil society, including giving talks to schools, community groups and others. It is important to note that community policing is at the heart of An Garda Síochána and that all Gardaí have a role to play in community policing in the course of carrying out their duties.

The table below, provided to me by Garda authorities, outlines the number of Gardaí assigned to the Drugs Unit in the DMR North Division, of which Ballymun is part.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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38. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the extent to which the strength of An Garda Síochána is likely to be brought up to strength in line with demographics; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7686/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána. This includes the allocation of resources, including Garda members, to a given Division, District or Station. I am assured that the Commissioner keeps the allocation of these resources under continual review, in line with crime trends and population stats, to ensure their optimum use.

I would like to assure the Deputy that we remain committed to the target of 1,000 new recruits in 2023. My Department and I regularly engage with the Garda Commissioner to ensure he has the necessary resources to deliver on this level of recruitment.

I am committed that Garda numbers would be brought o 15,000 and beyond.

I take great confidence in the level of interest shown in the latest Garda recruitment campaign despite a very competitive job market. This is a testament to the enduring popularity of a career with An Garda Síochána. I also take confidence knowing that a further recruitment campaign, which will be launched in the coming months, will ensure a pipeline of suitable candidates.

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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39. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality for an update on the policing structure across County Mayo; if he will provide a breakdown of officers in each area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7726/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is by law responsible for the distribution of Garda personnel and resources between the different Garda Divisions. As Minister, I have no role in these operational matters.

I can advise the Deputy that the new Garda Operating Model reflects and addresses the challenges of modern day policing by enabling specialisation in the delivery of key services and freeing up more Gardaí to focus on front line policing.

It will particularly enhance the investigation of crime through the delivery of a greater range of specialised services in local areas such as the investigation of sexual crime, domestic violence, cyber-crime, and economic crime.

The development and introduction of the Operating Model was a recommendation by both the Garda Inspectorate and the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland (CoFPI) and is a key element of delivering its implementation plan, ‘A Policing Service for the Future’.

Its focus is on community policing based on local needs consistent with the objective of “Keeping People Safe” by working closely with wider services to prevent crime and support vulnerable people.

The new model introduces major changes to the structures of An Garda Síochána by providing more front-line Gardaí, increased Garda visibility, and a wider range of policing services for people in their local area.

The Operating Model is designed to make each Division the central unit of policing administration rather than the current smaller District model to benefit from greater scale. This benefits will be by way of effective streamlining of administrative processes, reduction in bureaucracy and allow the release of Gardaí from back office functions.

The new Operating Model is currently being rolled out in all divisions and is fully commenced in six - Dublin South Central, Cork City, Kerry, Galway, Limerick and Mayo-Roscommon-Longford. For these divisions it means:

- Districts replaced with Community Engagement Functional Areas;

- Crime Functional Area established in each Division;

- All Personnel aligned to a Functional Area;

- Garda Stations Aligned to Community Engagement Functional Areas.

I am advised by the Commissioner that An Garda Síochána are planning for the continued rollout of the Operating Model during 2023, in consultation with the relevant stakeholders.

The Garda authorities have also indicated that the plan will include the continued roll out in the remaining divisions along with the implementation of the regional office standardised processes in the four regions during 2023.

The Deputy may also be interested to know that as of 31 December 2022, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 616 Garda members assigned to the Mayo-Roscommon-Longford Division. A full breakdown of Garda members nationwide is available on my Department's website, and updated monthly.

Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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40. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he is aware of the impact on the ground in rural areas due to a lack of Garda resources; the steps that will be taken to improve recruitment of gardaí to increase resources; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7389/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the recruitment and allocation of Garda resources is an operational matter for the Garda Commissioner. This includes the assignment of Garda members to a given Division, District or Station. As Minister I have no role in these operational policing matters.

I am advised that the Garda Commissioner keeps the allocation of Garda resources under continual review to ensure their best use. Among the factors considered are crime trends, population statistics and operational need. 

I would like to assure the Deputy that the Government is committed to building stronger, safer communities, in both rural and urban areas, and a strengthened Garda Síochána is at the centre of that. The strong interest in the latest Garda recruitment campaign reflects the enduring popularity of a career with An Garda Síochána, even in the midst of a highly competitive jobs market. I want to acknowledge also that Garda recruitment was significantly and understandably disrupted when the Garda college at Templemore was necessarily closed during the COVID pandemic.  

The Commissioner and his team have assured me that the target to recruit 1,000 new sworn Gardaí in 2023 will be achieved this year.

In tandem with this recruitment drive, additional reassignments of Gardaí to operational frontline policing and the continued rollout of the new Operating Model with its focus on community engagement will further consolidate Garda resources, enabling Gardaí to continue to deliver on An Garda Síochána's mission of Keeping People Safe. 

Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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41. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí that are expected to retire or resign from the force in 2023 and if the numbers of gardaí to be recruited will exceed those retiring and resigning. [7514/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will appreciate, resource management, such as succession planning, is an operational matter for the Garda Commissioner. This Government has provided record Garda funding to allow for sustained recruitment and is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs. The Commissioner and his team have assured me that the target to recruit 1,000 new sworn Gardaí in 2023 will be achieved this year.

I have been informed by Garda authorities that, as of 10 February 2023, 172 members have submitted their application to retire/resign in 2023. Figures include voluntary and compulsory retirements, cost neutral early retirements and resignations only. There are also an additional 68 members who are due to retire on a compulsory retirement basis to the year end.

I am advised that there have been 42 departures from An Garda Síochána in the period 1 January to 10 February 2023. This figure includes voluntary and compulsory retirements, medical discharges and resignations.

Coupled with further reassignments of Gardaí to operational frontline policing and the continued roll out of the new Operating Model with its focus on community engagement, I am confident that the Commissioner has suitable resources and plans in place to continue to deliver on An Garda Síochána's mission of Keeping People Safe.